Written By : Nanik Rahmawati

Prefix ber- is used to form verbs or adjectives from

nouns or other base verbs. The resulting word

typically means having or being the property or

attribute that the prefix is applied to.

To form an intransitive verb.

As such, the English translation of ber- prefixed

words may be classified as verbs or adjectives,

depending on the context. Typically the verbs created

with the ber- prefix are intransitive verbs.

When combined with a noun, the prefix ber- converts

the noun to a verb, meaning to have or perform the

ability or property of that noun.

Examples that may translate as verbs:

o Dia bergaun panjang = She is wearing long dress

( the root is gaun = dress)

o Wanita itu berjalan ke kantornya = The woman is

walking to her office

( the root is jalan= path/ way/ road)

o Dia hanya bercanda= She/ He is just joking

(the root is canda= joke)

o Saya berjumpa teman lama di toko buku= I meet an

old friend in book store

(the root is jumpa= meet/ see )

o Nanas ini berair= This pineapple is succulent/ juicy

( from air + water)

o Jalannya bergelombang= the road is bumpy

( from gelombang/ tidak rata= bumpy )

1. Mempunyai “Having”

Example: Anak itu sudah tidak berayah lagi ( The kid

doesn’t have a father anymore)

2. Mengenakan “wearing”

Example: gadis berjilbab itu adalah teman saya ( The

girl who is wearing veil is my friend)

3. Mengendarai “To ride/ driving/ ride in”

Example : Setiap hari dia bersepeda ke kantor

( He/ She rides a bike to the office every day)

4. Dalam keadaan/ merasakan “Being in a condition/

feel”

Example : Rani bergembira di pesta ulang tahunnya

( Rani was happy in her birthday party)

5. Bertambah/ menjadi “getting”

Example : Adikku bertambah tinggi ( My brother is

getting tall)

6. Mata pencaharian “Proffession”

Example : Dia masih berdagang mebel (He has been

trading meubel)

Berdagang ( trading) is a proffession

7. Mengandung “ Contains”

Example : Buah ini bervitamin A ( This fruit contains vitamine A)

8. Melakukan/ mengerjakan “Doing”

Example : Mari kita berolahraga!

( Let’s do sport! )

9. Kelompok/ himpunan “ Group”

Kami berdua pergi ke pesta itu ( We both go to the party)

“ Berdua” means the group contains two people

Note:

Prefix ber- that may means metaphor/ analogy is also

often applied to verb.

For instances:

Berpulang means meninggal (die)

Bertolak means melakukan perjalanan ( make a trip)

Nanik Rahmawati ( International Class STAIN Salatiga)